CM blames KHADC for road project delays

SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Friday slammed the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) for not issuing No Objection Certificate (NOC) for construction of the Nongstoin-Mawthabah road which has been pending for years now.
“It is wrong on the part of the KHADC to not give the NOC,” the chief minister said while speaking to media persons here on Friday.
He also ruled out apprehensions that the road was meant to facilitate uranium mining, saying there has been no indication from the State government since 2010 about uranium mining in the State.
He stated that uranium mining is a national agenda and even if the mining is done, it has to be done after taking the local people into confidence.
“Today we are almost losing this       project. Can they (KHADC) compensate this loss?” he questioned while adding that the few people settled along the road are all in agony due to absence of a good road in the area.
While admitting that he has received several letters from Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping, Nitin Gadkari, expressing his displeasure about the delay in land acquisition for several road projects in the State, the chief minister said most road projects have been delayed for decades due to non issue of NOC by the KHADC.
The chief minister has already directed the chief secretary to hold meetings with the KHADC and iron out the issues. The State government would go ahead with some projects where NOC has been already issued by the KHADC, he informed.
Meanwhile, he also said that expansion of NH 62 is likely under funding from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and preparation of the detailed project report (DPR) is in progress.
He further informed that several other road projects like Shillong-Dawki, Tura-Dalu, Mawphlang-Mawkyrwat and Baghmara-Ranikor projects are also in the pipeline.
When asked about the recent bus accident in Sonapur area of East Jaintia Hills which led to the death of 29 people, the chief minister said the government is also already impressing upon the Union government to develop the Jowai-Ratacherra road and even the Shillong Bypass into a four-lane road which would definitely reduce the number of accidents.
He also said that the Supreme Court has set up a committee to discuss the aspects of safety on the road.